Writing / Sketch

Storytelling

Electives

In Session

Improv

Improv training can change your life. And becoming a skilled and confident improviser is an adventure worth the effort. We've built our school around supporting students at every point on their adventure. Our curriculum is designed to make our students successful immediately and then build quickly on those successes in a strategic and focused way. It will take practice, which is why all of our classes are active - you'll be on your feet, learning by doing, in a culture of mutual support and playful risk taking. Progressing through the levels will increase the sophistication of your work by integrating multiple aspects of scenework, group support, comedy technique and game playing, and longer improv structures. And the entire endeavor is led by talented and experienced instructors who share the same goal: to make your class experience a success and your graduation performance something truly special.

The Improv Conservatory Program provides advanced training, turning qualified students into consistent performers. It's also the program where veteran improvisers can increase and sharpen their skills. This program is performance focused, offering more individualized attention, and a wide variety of classes and workshops. The workshops fall under the following categories: Level 5 Intro To Conservatory, Conservatory Skills, Conservatory Performance, and Team Performance Workshop.

Musical Improv

These classes are for two types of people: anyone who feels born to make up songs in front of people, and anyone who dreads the idea. You'll learn how to sing confidently within your own voice. You'll learn the mechanics of a song, and the underlying structures that songwriters use to create the building blocks of a larger musical piece. And you'll practice over and over with a supportive group of other improvisers, building toward creating spontaneous musicals without any pre-planned content. It's a fun and rewarding challenge, and when all the pieces come together it can be thrilling. After a bit of training, you may be asked to audition for one of the Musical Megawatt teams and gain a regular performance slot at the Magnet MainStage. Magnet is committed to maintaining the most comprehensive musical improv program anywhere by combining classroom instruction with ever-growing performance opportunities.

Sketch Writing

These classes are for people who want to learn to write great sketch comedy. The Magnet Comedy Writing Program teaches the mechanics behind what makes great sketches work, and applies that learning to each student's writing from concept to final polish. Structured around a 'writer's room' environment and led by experienced instructors, each student not only receives useful feedback, but also learns how to analyze their own work, preparing them to work outside the classroom environment. Advanced classes result in performances which are cast from Magnet performers and directed by the instructor. And throughout, students continue their creation of their writing packet - a necessary first step in the pursuit of comedy writing career. There are also many opportunities to refine your work by putting sketches on their feet, either with Sketch Club, The Generator, or by becoming part of a Magnet Sketch Team.

Storytelling

Storytelling is for everyone from the Moth Story Slam Champion in the making, to the writer seeking to fine-tune their narrative skills, or simply a non-performer who wants the confidence and ability to get in front of a group and engage them without fear. This program is designed to teach you how to take personal experiences from your life and create stories that an audience will deeply connect with. You will learn the basic elements of telling a narrative story, how to take a crowd by surprise and make them care, how to be real and truthful on stage, and how to discover and communicate the real meaning behind your experience.

Electives

As part of our comprehensive approach toward training great improvisers, the 'elective' classes are a way for students to augment the training they receive in our core curriculum and conservatory. These shorter term workshops provide ways for students to build new specific skills, go deeper into areas they love, experiment by following their curiosity, and provide an opportunity to work with different instructors. Check back regularly - one day and multi-week workshops are always being added.

Registration Policies and FAQ

As a student or potential student, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with Magnet's registration policies. If you have have a question that hasn't been answered here, please contact Magnet School Director Amy Morrison at 212-244-2400 or SchoolDirector@MagnetTheater.com.

Student Expectations:
Students are required to be on time to class and stay for the entire class period. Please be courteous to your classmates. Disturbances, such as tardiness, cell phone use, inappropriate comments, and disrespectful behavior, will not be tolerated. Disruptive students may be asked to leave. If you require any special accommodations please call our School Director, at 212-244-2400, at the time of your registration.

Attendance:
Students may miss no more than 2 classes. If a student misses more than 2 classes, the student may not be permitted to participate in the class show and must retake the class in order to move to the next level. A student may be held back and asked to repeat a class at the discretion of the instructor.

Pre-Requisites:
Students enter the program at Level 1 and must satisfactorily complete each level as a pre-requisite for the next level. Conservatory (our upper levels) students must be accepted through an application process. There is no pre-requisite for the Drop-In, the Free Intros, Any Level 1, Camp Magnet, or any elective unless specifically noted. Magnet reserves the right to accept or deny an individual's registration for a class.

Repeating at Half-Price:
To encourage student development and mastery of skills, students may repeat any core curriculum class for half the regular price.

Performance Opportunities:
Completion of the core curriculum and conservatory programs does not guarantee placement on a house team or guarantee any other performance opportunities at Magnet.

All Sales Final:
Class payments are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. All sales are final.

Registration Complete Upon Payment:
Registration is not complete and you are not placed in the class until payment is received in full.

If a Class is Re-scheduled or Cancelled:
It's rare, but in the event that Magnet must cancel or reschedule a class, enrolled students will be notified of any rescheduling by either email or phone, or both. In the event of a cancelled class, a full refund will be given.

Every Saturday, one of The Magnet's top performers hosts an ongoing drop-in session. Whether you are looking to play with new improvisors, get some reps in between classes or just brush up on your fundamentals, the Saturday Drop-In is the perfect place to be.

In this week-long course, students will explore the fundamental principles of improvisation through exercises in agreement, commitment, spontaneity, and collaboration. We'll focus on developing group mind, creating unique characters, and exploring the most important tenet of improv (and life), “Yes And!” This experience will require participants to take creative risks, tap into new forms of self-expression, and operate as a member of a supportive ensemble. Students will walk away with a fundamental understanding of long-form improvisation and the skills to perform grounded, hilarious, improv scenes. This class will culminate with a final performance for friends and family. A supervised half hour break will be taken midway through class. Students are required to bring their own lunch. Students must be ages 12-17 to enroll.

The wait is over! Summer is here and Camp Magnet is back! June 11th to June 14th. Get ready for an intensive weekend of 4 days and 3 nights of improv and writing workshops with top instructors, woven into a schedule of the best activities pulled from summer camp, and put it in a beautiful setting at an actual summer camp in the Catskills. Eat great meals together as a group in the cozy mess hall, take advantage of lake time, pool time (or just pick up a Frisbee and throw it – someone will catch it because we're all improvisers!). Stay up late for the nightly improv jams. Bring your favorite blankets and pillows for the bunk in your cabin, we supply the s'mores stuff for the campfire.

If you have any questions about logistics or what to bring, we have answers – call Amy at 212-244-2400. No improv or camping experience required.

(Private cabins still available at additional cost.)

Why are there no classes listed below? Because we don't currently have classes in this category now enrolling. Please check back for updates. And if you're not yet receiving our newsletter, please sign up below for great updates on shows and classes.

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It's true! Now's your chance to try out our classes without paying a thing! No experience required—plus, we add new dates and times every week so there's always something to fit your schedule. Open to all. Just click Now Enrolling on a class below.

Want to take an 8 week improv class in just 5 days? These classes meet for 5 days (Mon - Fri) from 10am - 4pm and conclude with an hour long class show. Our Summer Intensives cover the same material as our regular classes and you can choose to take 1 level or even finish all 3 levels of our core curriculum in just 3 weeks.

Simply put, you'll learn to improvise. In Level One, students will get onstage immediately and explore the fundamental principles of improvisation through exercises in agreement, commitment, spontaneity and listening. Sessions are designed so students will build a strong foundation as a confident performer. You will amaze yourself with your new found skills at the class graduation performance in front of your friends and family. This show is always fun and usually the highlight of most people's lives. Open to all.

Now apply what you've learned in Level One to create long form pieces. This class is heavy on exercises in the fundamental structural components of long form: scene work, group games, opening games, second beats, transitions, and callbacks. Students emerge from Level Two with the tools necessary to stage longer pieces with recurring themes and rich characters, and they hit the stage at the end with another fun graduation performance.

With the first two levels under your belt, it's time to focus on Harold, the original long form structure that changed the history of performance improvisation. Harold is popular for good reason - it's fun, relatively simple to learn, infinitely deep, and very satisfying for performers and audiences. Students will master the components of this dynamic long form, and get to perform a Harold in their class graduation show.

Level Four dives deep into an advanced form (e.g. Evente, MonoScene, Deconstruction, Sleepover, Harold+, The Movie, Choose Your Own Adventure) and works on that form with the singular focus needed to create a great show.

Intro to the Conservatory is the first component of advanced training designed to make students confident, skilled and consistent performers. This class includes six weeks of classes that explore The Montage, The Mono Scene, The Time Dash and Freeze Tag. These forms and games each offer unique challenges, the mastery of which builds a comprehensive set of necessary skills. The class culminates in a four week run of performances, presented in 'revue'-style at The Magnet Studio Theater. For more information about Conservatory policies and an FAQ, click here.

Prerequisite: Magnet Level 4 and instructor approval. Approval based on improv core curriculum instructor recommendations. For more information of availability, see the Conservatory FAQ

Classes in the Conservatory Skills category focus even more on individual strengths and weakness, scene work and specialty skills. From technical stagecraft, to straightforward explorations of two person scenes, these classes aim to challenge students with a clear, specific focus, giving them a better understanding and command of their body, their choices, and their improv instincts. For more information about Conservatory policies and an FAQ, click here.

Classes in the Conservatory Performance category are primarily designed to provide stage time. More experience in front of a live audience builds skills and activates previous training in powerful ways. Students ready for this invaluable opportunity will focus on a single form and conclude with a four week run of shows. Forms offered in the past include The Blackout, Organic Improv and Multiverse. The course available will regularly change based on instructor availability. For more information about Conservatory policies and an FAQ, click here.

Team Performance Workshop is where our most advanced students continue training as a member of an improv ensemble. The first section includes six weeks of classes during which students are split into two eight-person ensembles. In the second section ensembles rehearse with a coach outside of class to produce a full eight week run of shows on the Magnet Mainstage. For the first half of run, one group performs The Montage and The Mono Scene while the other performs The Harold before switching for the second half of the run. This class is offered twice a year, from either November to February or May to August. February and August also bring opportunities to audition for placement on a Megawatt Team. For more information about Conservatory policies and an FAQ, click here.

Note: Placement in Team Performance Workshop is extremely competitive and spots are limited.

Prerequisite: Level Five: Intro to the Conservatory and Instructor Approval.

Why are there no classes listed below? Because we don't currently have classes in this category now enrolling. Please check back for updates. And if you're not yet receiving our newsletter, please sign up below for great updates on shows and classes.

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Learn how to put your thoughts and emotions into song and take your improv scenes to the next level! In this 8-week course you will learn the song structures you need to make up musicals on the spot. No need to be an experienced singer! Through exercises in group dynamic, support, and movement, you will learn how to turn every song you improvise into a full-blown musical number. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance.

Taking the fundamentals you learned in level one, Musical Improv Level 2 shows you how to make your improvised scenes and songs look and feel more like a Broadway musical! Exercises in listening and emotional commitment will give you the solid scene-work you need to launch into songs. Also, you will explore different song styles, learning about want songs, philosophy songs, charm songs, and metaphor songs. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance. Prerequisite: Musical Improv Level One

Learn how to put your thoughts and emotions into song and take your improv scenes to the next level! In this 8-week course you will learn the song structures you need to make up musicals on the spot. No need to be an experienced singer! Through exercises in group dynamic, support, and movement, you will learn how to turn every song you improvise into a full-blown musical number. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance. Prerequisite: Magnet Musical Improv 1 and 2, Instructor Approval Required

This class will teach you concrete skills that will help you become a better sketch comedy writer. You will learn how to develop your ideas, clarify your premise, create characters, and understand what makes a good sketch work. The class will consist of lectures, writing assignments, and focused and fun workshops each week. 8 weeks. No experience required. Open to all.

This class is an advanced sketch writing workshop that will give you the experience of working as a writer on a professional comedy show. Students will learn how to better craft sketches, expand their writing portfolio, collaborate with a team of writers, and produce their own sketches for performance. The class will conclude with two graduation performances, in which students will be responsible for casting, rehearsing, directing, and producing their work for the stage. Prerequisite: Sketch Writing Level One and instructor approval. 8 weeks and 1 graduation performance.

Why are there no classes listed below? Because we don't currently have classes in this category now enrolling. Please check back for updates. And if you're not yet receiving our newsletter, please sign up below for great updates on shows and classes.

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Want to learn how to tell a story from the best storyteller in NYC? Of course you do! Magnet Theater Storytelling Instructor Adam Wade (18-time Moth Story Slam Champion, NPR, NY Times) will teach you how how to take personal experiences from your life and create stories that are universal and identifiable for an audience — you'll be blown away at how engaging your personal stories can be! Whether you're a Moth Slam Champion in the making, a writer seeking to fine tune your narrative skills, or someone who wants the confidence and ability to get in front of people and be heard — this class will help.

In this class you will learn the basic elements of telling a narrative story, how to take a crowd by surprise and make them care, how to be real and truthful on stage, and how to discover and communicate the real meaning behind your experience. Classes will include verbal and written exercises, examples of performances from some of the finest storytellers, and various techniques and approaches to prepare yourself for a performance of your story.

What you'll get out of the class: at least one polished, six-to-eight minute story — which could be a Moth Story Slam winner, the beginning of a one-person show, or a personal essay — and the fundamentals needed to develop future stories.

The class concludes with a graduation performance where you will perform your personal story in front of a live, super-supportive audience!

Learn how to create one 10-12 minute entertaining story based on a real, personal experience. Gain a clear understanding of structure, arc and theme.

Develop singular images and descriptions - and employ them effectively within the narrative. Develop strategies for gathering your ideas and notes. This course will focus on various critical thinking methods that will enable your unique personal and physical traits to contribute to your telling.

Utilize sounds, visuals, and multimedia to compliment your stories, create an outline, build your confidence to make revisions on the fly. You’ll leave the class with a strong foundation for a one-person show as well as methods for developing your story for television, movies, or theater. You will be in a supportive environment, one of camaraderie and growth.

Prerequisites: Completion of Adam Wade's Storytelling 1 at the Magnet Theater Student must already have a solid story/concept that you wish to work with for the six weeks of classes.

Learn how to create one 10-12 minute entertaining story based on a real, personal experience. Gain a clear understanding of structure, arc and theme.

Develop singular images and descriptions - and employ them effectively within the narrative. Develop strategies for gathering your ideas and notes. This course will focus on various critical thinking methods that will enable your unique personal and physical traits to contribute to your telling.

Utilize sounds, visuals, and multimedia to compliment your stories, create an outline, build your confidence to make revisions on the fly. You’ll leave the class with a strong foundation for a one-person show as well as methods for developing your story for television, movies, or theater. You will be in a supportive environment, one of camaraderie and growth.

Prerequisites: Completion of Adam Wade's Storytelling 1 at the Magnet Theater Student must already have a solid story/concept that you wish to work with for the six weeks of classes.

Why are there no classes listed below? Because we don't currently have classes in this category now enrolling. Please check back for updates. And if you're not yet receiving our newsletter, please sign up below for great updates on shows and classes.

contact form

Email address: (required)

We have a comprehensive approach to training great improvisers. These 'Electives' are a way for students to augment the training they receive in our core curriculum and conservatory. The shorter term workshops provide ways for students to build new specific skills, go deeper into areas they love, experiment by following their curiosity, and provide an opportunity to work with different instructors. Check back regularly - one day and multi-week workshop 'Electives' are always being added.

Why are there no classes listed below? Because we don't currently have classes in this category now enrolling. Please check back for updates. And if you're not yet receiving our newsletter, please sign up below for great updates on shows and classes.